Magic Light

October skies are the bluest of the year. The light also has magic in it, as was evident the other morning on the side of this house.

Quote of the Day

You gain strength, experience and confidence
by every experience where you really stop
to look fear in the face.
You must do the thing you cannot do.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

Holy Ground at River Confluence

When you stand on holy ground you feel it.

A place that has always been holy ground for me is where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers run together near Cairo, Illinois. That confluence provides me with a place I can go to reset my compass when I've lost my way in the world. It is sacred. Essential.

Recently, a friend mentioned that in some cultures confluences are important religious sites. This made me start thinking about my attraction to the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio, just across the river from Kentucky where I grew up. I couldn't think of any other times I'd noticed confluences.

Less than two weeks later I was away from home and an offhand comment was made to a group about a confluence that was nearby. I made it a point to visit, to see if it felt the same to me as the confluence I'm familiar with.



You can see ridges where they run together. The river on the left is much faster, with a much greater current than the calmer river on the right. So, it makes a significant ripple where they come together.

I feel certain I'll be visiting other confluences.

Homecoming Memoir

A few weeks ago I attended a memoir writing workshop with Lisa Dale Norton. We went through a series of exercises that resulted in a short memoir. My theme was "Homecoming." I promised to share it here, and realized I had not done that. Until now...

*****

Homecoming
by Patsy Terrell

I didn’t want to go in the first place. I was tired after a 14-hour travel day that had started in another country. It had involved drunk Germans, fresh-faced South Africans and rude British. Finally, after using my limited French, we had landed ourselves in a nice, comfortable hotel room and I had no great desire to leave it.

But Greg was going. And even as I was saying, “no,” I was reaching for my sweater. Because something interesting might happen, and I’d miss it, and I never want to miss anything. So, out into the chilly May night we went.

The narrow, wet cobblestone streets were lined with buildings that prevented us from seeing beyond the next curve. History was surrounding us on all sides. We were headed to the river.

After a few twists and turns, we found ourselves going through a long passageway. As we neared the last arch, I could see a glimmer ahead. Then, there it was, in all its glory, IM Pei’s Pyramid marking the entrance to the Louvre. At the late hour there were few other people around, except in cars whizzing by, seemingly oblivious to what was in front of them.

I was stopped in my tracks. Not by the building, but because it was the gateway to the Art. Famous Art. Art that people had been inspired by for centuries. Finally, it was my turn to worship in its presence.

I hadn’t grown up an art lover. Kentucky farmers don’t spend a lot of time at the dinner table discussing the finer points of Da Vinci’s talents. Had I expressed an interest, my mother would have found a way to satisfy it, but having no exposure to art I didn’t even know there was such a thing.

A serendipitious experience in college had resulted in me seeing the Armand Hammer collection, one of the finest private art collections in the world. That night I discovered this was something that had been missing in my life. I knew I could never be whole without this beauty. I would never feel at home in my own skin without knowing more.

I was ignorant about art. I had never even been to a museum. Since I couldn’t go to a museum then, I went to a library instead. I started reading and learning. I didn’t know how to say the names of various artists, but I soaked up the information. Whenever possible I visited museums. The next few years became a series of trips that were a dot to dot of museum visits. It had all been leading up to this moment. To be in Paris, where museums lay on either side of the Seine.

That May evening as we stood on the plaza around the Louvre, Greg clutching his Paris Plan 11, ecstatic that everything was exactly where the map had indicated it would be, I knew I had come home to a place I’d never been.

Across the Seine, Greg pointed out the Musee d’Orsay. The glowing clock reminded me I didn’t have enough time. I had been in Paris less than an hour, and had a week stretching out before me, but I already knew it wasn’t enough time.

Unfortunately, I was correct about that. I’ve returned to Paris more than once, but it’s never enough time. I always want more time in the museums, gardens and streets. More time with the French people who have never been rude to me, despite their reputation.

As I stood with the Louvre at my back, looking across the Seine toward the Orsay, I knew at the other end of the gardens, blocked from my view by construction, was yet another museum, the l’Orangerie. What I didn’t know was that the l’Orangerie would be where I would fall in love, not with a man, but with something far more permanent than that – art.

I would tumble head-long into love with Monet’s final eight works. They’re huge and no photograph can give you the sense of being surrounded by them like being in their presence. I was to spend many hours in the windowless basement, contemplating brush strokes and color combinations. I would leave at closing time and be waiting the next morning when they opened.

But that night, on the banks of the Seine, I didn’t know that. I was so grateful for the chance to be there. I was surrounded by art and culture, something I wanted my life to be; and by the river, a representation of all my life had been. This was just a different river than I’d known.

I spent that week going from one museum to another, wrapped up in my own world and my desire to see everything in case I never got another chance. I was not as kind as I should have been to Greg, and his mom who had traveled with us and was making it possible for us to be in far more comfortable hotels than we would have been on our own. I was selfish. I’m sorry to say that, but it’s the truth.

Today, I’m a much better travel companion. Multiple trips to multiple countries make me believe there will be another time, another chance. But sometimes there’s not another chance with that person. The art that has survived for centuries is likely to be there the next time you visit. The rivers will still be flowing.

I’ve always heard we travel to run from something or toward something. I’ve done both, but on that night, I was definitely going toward something. I was headed home.

Synchronicity

Tonight I was rereading some blog entries, including this one about the loss of my friend, Matthew, last year. While I was reading it, Pandora brought up a random song that took me back to zipping down the road in the back of a taxi in La Ceiba, Honduras. We commented on the song at the time, and Matthew said it would always remind me of that moment. He was right.

Open

What are you open to?

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. If I were going to tell someone something about myself, this seems like it would be a good thing to note. What am I open to?

Trish has said about me more than once that I'm open to new friends. That's certainly true. I'm also open to new experiences, new places, and travel. I'm sure there are other things. I'm still thinking about this.

So... what are you open to?

Impact of Tourism on Kansas Economy

I've been attending a tourism conference the past few days. Long before I worked in the museum business, I knew tourism was important - particularly to the small town where I live that, even though it's a town of less than 50,000 people, has two world-class attractions. The Cosmosphere, where I work, and the Underground Salt Museum both attract visitors from all over the world.

The Cosmosphere is the only Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Kansas, and truly the most comprehensive space museum in the world. It has the largest collection of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow and the second largest of American space artifacts, second only to the National Air and Space Museum. The Kansas Underground Salt Museum is the only one of its kind in the western hemisphere. You travel 650 feeet underground, ride through large caverns where salt has been mined, and visit a museum underground. So, you can see why people would come to visit Hutchinson.

At this state tourism conference, they reported numbers that surprised me, even though I already believed in the impact of tourism.

*If tourism didn't exist in Kansas, each household would pay $875 more in taxes in order to maintain the current level of services
*Tourism accounts for 3.9% of the Kansas Gross State Product, making it the 12th largest industry in the state
*Each visitor contributes $58 in tax receipts, $33 goes to state/local authorities
*The average spending per tourist in Kansas is $238
*1 out of 9 Kansas citizens owes his/her job to tourism
*every 200 visitors to Kansas creates a new job
*Tourism generated 27.4% of all state and local taxes in 2009
*39 visitors to Kansas pay for one Kansas public school student

I find all of this quite interesting. I knew the impact of tourism was huge, but some of these numbers are staggering. You can bet the numbers are impressive where you live, too.

Learning and Loving

"Learning doesn't necessarily lead to loving." Lisa Brochu said this yesterday during a presentation about developing a theme for your community or attraction. I've been contemplating it. For me, there's a definite connection between how much I know about a topic and how I interact with the objects.

I've learned that I'm a "spiritual pilgrimmage" traveller at times, particularly with art. I've often said to people that I need to be "alone to commune with the art," which is pretty much the definition of a spiritual pilgrimmage traveller.

What Brochu was saying is that just because someone learns a fact, a detail, about something, it doesn't mean they will become enchanted with it - begin to love it. They may think it's interesting, and enjoy it, but they won't love it.

To make people love it, they need the stories. That's what people remember, unless a fact strikes them so strongly they commit it to memory.

I really believe this to be the case.

Tonight at dinner I was seated next to a gentleman who, in the course of the evening's conversation, I learned used to own a company that booked speakers. I've thought for a very long time that my next different career is going to be as a professional speaker.

One of the things he told me tonight was, "People don't want to be educated, they want to be entertained." I was reminded of what Brochu said yesterday. I think it's the same concept.

The stories entertain. This is valuable information.

Now, the question remains, whatever shall my speech topic be? I have so many interests to pursue. I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

Futurist Dr. Lowell Catlett

This morning I heard Dr. Lowell Catlett speak about future trends. As an economist he spoke at length about the economy and how things are in much better shape than our commonly held beliefs would indicate.

What I found most interesting was his discussion regarding the generational differences between his age group (solidly baby boomer) and his parents' generation. He pointed out how his father lived through the Great Depression and it affected him because he was always on Maslow's lower level in the Hierarchy of needs - basic needs.

By contrast, Catlett's generation was able to dream more because their parents had provided for all their basic needs. He said he heard the talk about the rough times, but he didn't live them. He pointed out that the later generations haven't even heard the stories.

He used multiple examples to illustrate his points, but one that really struck me was when he was speaking about his father's generation and said, "These people would not plow down 20 acres of corn in a 100 acre corn field and call it a corn maze."

He got a laugh out of that, but it's so very true. The older generation would view corn as food. Later ones view it as potential entertainment. Baby boomers list entertainment as one of the things they're most willing to spend money on.

"Agriculture is the new golf," he said, as he talked about how many people want a farm as a recreational outlet. He mentioned horses as an example of how our attitudes have changed. In 1890 we had 6.9 million horses and they were working - pulling buggies, plows, etc. Today we have 9.3 million horses and we pull them up and down the road in trailers. We also spent 30 billion dollars on vet care for horses last year. They're ridden an average of twice a year.

Dr. Catlett pointed out the distinction between generations by saying, "What was a luxury to one generation becomes a necessity to the next." Once we go up on the hierarchy of needs, we don't want to come back down. He used an example that 95% of baby boomers grew up sharing a bedroom and a bath. But 95% of the millenials have never shared either.

Many, many facts were offered - some fascinating. One I found startling was that between now and 2014, someone will turn 50 years old every 6.8 seconds. He talked about various kinds of assisted living care and how what older generations have considered acceptable will not be acceptable to baby boomers. As he summed it up, "I don't want to die in a semi-private room, looking at an orange plastic chair, and listening to my roommate snore."

It was a fascinating presentation.

Water

I was listening to Weekend Edition today and they mentioned the One Day on Earth project was asking people to document today since it was 10-10-10. In fact 10:10:10 p.m. on 10-10-10 just passed if one wants to make note of such things.

Anyway, I took a little video and a couple of pictures to add to the project. When I logged in tonight I noticed one of the categories was water.

Of course, in much of the world, clean water is a precious, scarce resource. It's more scarce in Kansas than we seem to realize, too, but that's another issue.

Anyway, I found it ironic that the two photos I had taken today, without knowing this, were of water. But, probably not what they were thinking. I took photos of fountains with water colored pink for breast cancer awareness.



While I don't disregard the importance of the cause, I'm wondering if one day we'll be astonished that water was so plentiful we had fountains running, much less with pink water in them.

It's yet another example of the lavish lives we lead in America, without even knowing it.

Visiting

I did an art booth today at the Bethel College Fall Fetival. My friend, Jocelyn, who is experienced at these things, told me when I started doing them that it was great to talk to people who enjoyed her work. I've found that to be true.

It's also interesting to visit with folks who happen by. Today I met a young lady who had been in Egypt recently. We had much to talk about, needless to say.

I also connected with Kathy K. - always good to bump into her anywhere. We had time for a nice visit today.

There were a few people who read my column in Kansas Country Living and came over to introduce themselves. I always enjoy meeting readers.

The social interaction at these things is always fun. Today I had a bonus that Greg was with me most of the day - from helping me set up to unloading things back at my house. I'm so incredibly thankful for his help. I would probably still be trying to get everything home if he hadn't helped me so much. Thank you, Greg!

Broken Bits

Anyone who has been on the planet for more than a few years, and done any amount of living, has accumulated some of what I call the "broken bits." You've got a few ex-lovers, a few former careers and a few moments you're not too proud of.

I have more than a few of those moments. Harder than owning up to them, is accepting that I could have done better if I had only chosen differently. But, I didn't. A different decision seems so obvious in retrospect, but it's too late then. There are no do-overs. No mulligans. So, I just have to gather up the broken bits and put myself back together again, all the while hoping it's just myself I've broken and no one else.

But, how often is that really the case? There's always collateral damage to those in our worlds. People we love, that we'd never want to hurt, seem to get the worst of it because they're nearby. And the ones who truly love us barely flinch. Instead they gather 'round to help us find all the broken bits, right there in the fall-out zone.

It would be so easy for me to rewrite history. I'm a creative sort. I could craft something far more flattering than reality. But, it wouldn't accomplish much. It's easy to lie to other people, but it's much harder to make yourself believe it. The truth is always there, staring you in the face. You can't put the broken bits back together when they don't fit, and they never fit without the framework of truth.

So, while we might entertain some fanciful thoughts of how things should have gone, we have to accept how they really went. Then we can dull the sharp edges so the broken bits aren't quite so dangerous, arrange them in a colorful pattern and eventually cement them all together again into a new design.

That's what we call growth. The new person we are - that new design - can be beautiful, but it never masks the process. And that's not always pretty.

Temperate Days

The weather has been so pleasant lately. It has been nice to get out in the sunshine a little bit. I was at Dillon Nature Center the other day and noticed humans are not the only critters enjoying the temperate days.

Soothing the Insula to Control Addictions

The insula is part of your brain. More specifically, it's part of the cerebral cortex and it seems to be involved in lots of activities, particularly addicitons.

If you've ever craved ice cream, you can thank the insula. If you've ever debated a big purchase, the insula was involved. When you've reached for a cigarette, a line of cocaine or a Corona it was the insula that created the craving that just couldn't be set aside.

One of the things discussed in the mental health field is the "delay between discovery and delivery." Research nets many facts that are not put into practical application for many years, if ever. The insula is a prime example of this.

Science understands the insistence of the insula, and some ways to soothe it, but does not deliver this in a form that can be used by individuals. Instead doctors tell people to go on diets, which fail 95% of the time; give people patches to stop smoking; and send people to 12-step programs for drug addicitions, which have a success rate, but are certainly not trouble-free.

To me, a simple lay person, with no medical training, it would make more sense to treat the issue at its source - the insula. But, is medical science using this knowledge? No, not really. You know who is? Costco.

Apparently, Costco might be better positioned to deal with your addiction to food, drugs or other substances than your doctor. Why? Because they're willing to actually use the information we have.

I don't really need to say anymore about this, do I? I didn't think so.

Catching Up

Brian Lingle took this photo of me Saturday at the writer's workshop. It's nice to have a photo of myself at something like this. It's pretty rare - I'm usually taking the photos. Annette and Brian both took photos at this, which is nice.

I'm preparing for the Bethel College Fall Festival Art Show this weekend. Always so much stuff to take. Of course, you're basically creating a store out of nothing so it's understandable. Pam is generously letting me borrow her tent again. I have the best friends!

I mentioned I would share my memoir piece and I'm going to do that as soon as I have a chance to do some last minute edits on it.

This is going to be a frantically busy week, but I hope to get it done soon.

The Weekend

This weekend I met two people I hope I'll stay in touch with for a long time. I connected with a couple of other people I hope will be more present in my life. We'll see what the future brings.

Memoir Writing Compared to Novels and Autobiography

I've spent the day in an intense memoir writing workshop with Lisa Dale Norton. It started last night, and will finish Sunday afternoon.

Today began with a discussion about the difference between novel and memoir. One of the obvious ones is that in a novel the first person narrator doesn't know the outcome. In memoir they do, and the reader is aware of it. This means we have a different expectation.

Then the difference between autobiography and memoir was discussed. Autobiography is a chronological exploration of your entiere life. It doesn't have to have a dramatic arc. By contrast, a memoir is a slice of life, maybe with some backstory, but it's not your whole life. You could write more than one memoir.

Lisa Dale Norton said, "Memoir is not therapy. It's a work of art." She said the process of writing can affect how you view the events, but "you really need to just tell your truth." And you need to tell the truth with as little damage as possible to other people you interacted with. She referred to it as a place of "supreme compassion."

She reminded people, "You have the right to your reality." Of course it's common for people who are experiencing the same event to have different perspectives on it.

We did some writing exercises from her book, "Shimmering Images." Our homework is to prepare something to share tomorrow. I'd best get started on that.

It has been a really wonderful, inspiring day. I've met a couple of people I hope I stay in touch with for a long time.

Lisa Dale Norton Workshop

This weekend I'm attending a memoir writing workshop with Lisa Dale Norton. Tonight was the opening session and it was essentially a "getting to know you" opportunity. There were about 20 people there, including numerous English teachers.

Everyone introduced themselves and talked a little bit about what they're working on. I'm never quite sure what to say in those situations. Generally people talk about what they do for a living, or what they used to do for a living. That's just not the most interesting thing about me - even though I have a job that leads to some really cool situations. But, I'm not sure there's anything I can say in a brief introduction that is at all interesting to someone who doesn't know me.

All of this leads me to believe that memoir might not be my forte.

As usual I was taking notes. I gathered some thought-provoking quotes from Lisa Dale Norton I'll be mulling over. I thought I'd share some of those with you, in no particular order.

"Writing has a way of beckoning more stories."
"Lots of our stories rise out of grieving."
"'Excellent craft' and 'market' - two different worlds."
"Memoir is the application of structure."
"There are people who come with great gifts."
"The rude truth about the publishing industry is finding where you fit on the bookstore shelves."
"The creative mind is very smart."
"Everyone's experience is different, but true."
"We're fiction making machines."
"Winnowing is an act of creation."
"Memoir has to have structure. It needs a sense of completion."
"This is about how to take the narrative form and apply it to your life."
"If you want readers, you need story."

Warm Mug Equal Warm Feelings

Did you know that holding a cup of something hot increases your feelings of well-being? I'm surprised the coffee industry hasn't been using this in advertising.

A study at Yale found people who held warm mugs had warm feelings.

I just read about it, and other similar ways to increase happiness, on Shine at Yahoo.

Getting to know you

My friend, Martha, posted a link to Scott Ginsberg's blog on how to get to know someone. You can read it here: http://www.hellomynameisblog.com/2010/09/how-to-get-to-know-somebody.html.

As you know, I'm continually interested in how we form meaningful relationships with people. I'm considering if I know the answers to even a few of those questions about very many people in my world. It's a good exercise.

Beyond that, I'm wondering how many people would answer even half of those questions.

Routine

For a very long time, I have eschewed routine. The idea of grocery shopping on Tuesday and doing laundry on Friday has had no appeal whatsoever. Who wants their lives to be that predictable?

The other day I had one of those flashes of insight that pops into your brain out of nowhere. The flash was that routine means you have to think less about these mundane household chores. This appeals to me tremendously.

Perhaps there's wisdom in this approach to not having to think about every little detail. Maybe this is why generations of women have kept a grocery list on the fridge where they added things to it as it occurred to them. I at least have a pad of paper with a magnet attached to the fridge.

Perhaps routine is the old-fashioned automation.

World Habitat Day on Monday

Habitat for Humanity will join efforts around the world to mark World Habitat Day on Monday, October 4. World Habitat Day is a day the United Nations has set aside to call attention to the dire need for affordable, adequate housing.

When you go home to your nice, climate-controlled house today, think about some of these facts:

Housing improves health

• The number of low-income families who lack safe and affordable housing is related to the number of children who suffer from asthma, viral infections, anemia, stunted growth and other health problems.
  
• About 21,000 children have stunted growth attributable to the lack of stable housing; 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 9 are hospitalized for asthma attacks each year because of cockroach infestation at home; and more than 180 children die each year in house fires attributable to faulty heating and electrical equipment. (Sandel, et al: 1999)
  
• Children younger than 5 living in Habitat for Humanity houses in Malawi showed a 44 percent reduction in malaria, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases compared with children living in traditional houses.
  
• Children in poor housing have increased risk of viral or bacterial infections and a greater chance of suffering mental health and behavioral problems. (Harker: 2006)
  
• Housing deprivation leads to an average of 25 percent greater risk of disability or severe ill health across a person’s life span. Those who suffer housing deprivation as children are more likely to suffer ill health in adulthood, even if they live in non-deprived conditions later in life. (Marsh, et al.: 2000)
  

Housing has a positive impact on children

• Children of homeowners are more likely to stay in school (by 7 to 9 percent), and daughters of homeowners are less likely to have children by age 18 (by 2 to 4 percent). (Green and White: 1996)
  
• Owning a home leads to a higher-quality home environment, improved test scores in children (9 percent in math and 7 percent in reading), and reduced behavioral problems (by 3 percent). (Haurin, Parcel, and Haurin: 2002)
  
• Children who live in poor housing have lower educational attainment and a greater likelihood of being impoverished and unemployed as adults. (Harker: 2006)

Housing strengthens communities

• Homeowners are more likely to know their U.S. representative (by 10 percent) and school board head by name (by 9 percent), and are more likely to vote in local elections (by 15 percent) and work to solve local problems (by 6 percent). (DiPasquale and Glaeser: 1998)
  
• Homeowners are more likely to be satisfied with their homes and neighborhoods, and are more likely to volunteer in civic and political activities. (Rohe, Van Zandt, and McCarthy: 2000)
  
• Resident ownership is strongly related to better building security and quality, and to lower levels of crime. (Saegert and Winkel: 1998)

Read more at: http://worldhabitatdaynews.org

Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Jeff Ashby at the Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community College

Astronauts Scott Parazynski (light shirt) and Jeff Ashby (dark shirt) spoke at the Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community College Monday morning. They bantered back and forth both at the lecture and at the luncheon afterwards. It was very fun to watch. They are both astronauts and adventureres. Parazynski is a medical doctor and Ashby is a former Navy fighter pilot.

The speech was largely about Parazynski's climb to the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on the planet. Ashby went to base camp, but did not climb to the summit. Parazynski tried it in 2008 but had to turn back near the end of the journey due to a back injury. He went back in 2009 and was successful. Each attempt takes about two months total time.

Parazynski has climbed all 59 of the Colorado mountains over 14,000 feet, as well as many others. He and Ashby, a Kansas native, flew on one shuttle mission together, STS-100. On that mission, Ashby was trained to be doctor to Parazynski in case he had need of medical care. Parazynski joked, "I've never been more motivated to stay healthy." He said Ashby took the surgeon's motto, "A chance to cut is a chance to cure," a bit too seriously.



At the lecture they introduced each other and Ashby told a really funny story. He said he was invited to speak to a fourth grade class and the students were supposed to write an essay beforehand on the topic of, "How do you think you will be inspired by Captain Jeff Ashby?" A young man named Tony wrote, "I probably will not be inspired by Captain Jeff Ashby because my hero is Dr. Scott Parazynski." He went on to say that Parazynski had saved the space shuttle.

He was referring to a repair Parazynski made to the solar array on the shuttle. It has been referred to as the shuttle era's Apollo 13 moment. When a tear occurred they had to brainstorm ideas of how to repair it. Parazynski said, "You can't go down to Home Depot and get a Solar Array Repair Kit."



Ashby took a copy of that letter with him in 2008 when he hiked up to the Everest base camp, a 36 mile hike, where Parazynski was before attempting the summit. Ashby showed a photo of him crossing the first large bridge and said, "I noticed the higher and scarier the bridge, the more prayer flags hanging on it."

At the luncheon, someone wondered what had happened to the fourth grader, Tony, and Ashby moved to the microphone and quipped in a totally deadpan way, "I believe he's in jail now."

Both of them performed space walks and Parazynski referred it as the "ultimate astronaut experience." He said you're in your own individual space craft with, "only a thin visor between you and the infiniteness of the universe."



Ashby talked about gaining perspective through his climbing and space travel. "We seek the high ground for a different perspective. We can see what's above us and where we came from. This is important to those of us who climb."

Parazynski talked about the difficulties of the Everest expeditions. "Everything travels on the back of a yak or the back of a person," he said. But it was awe-inspiring to be there. "I'd seen pictures, but to see it with the naked eye... was amazing." He also loved the people saying, "They're amazing, very spiritual, and live life to the fullest, even though the life is simple. It's very uplifting just to be in their presence." He paused for a moment and said, "It would change you if you get a chance to visit."

When he made it to the summit, he got to spend, "thirty minutes on top of the world." He said the summit is about as big as a dining room table, and two or three people can sit there at a time. He took a NASA prayer flag commemorating those who have died in the space program. He also took a sample of moon rock from Apollo 11, and brought a sample from Everest. The two are side by side on the International Space Station now.



They both talked about how one day man will summit peaks on the moon. Parazynski pondered, "What other challenges are there in our solar system," saying, "It's human nature to challenge oneself."

Ashby spoke about the famous Everest explorer, Mallory, and said, "In 1921 he dreamed about climbing a mountain he'd never seen. I think there are humans among us who will be called to explore." Parazynski said he believes we all have an internal knowledge that we must explore for our species to survive.

Ashby said he has learned to always think about if he's seeing everything there is to see in a situation, and to consider the mindset he's approaching it with.

Asked to give advice to young people, Parazynski said, "The language of the future is going to be in science and technology." He went on to say, "It's important to have big dreams, but stay the course. Anything in life you have to work for. It's not going to be handed to you. Hold onto the dreams you have but be willing to work hard for them. If it's not of sufficient interest for you to do really well then don't do it."

Parazynski summed up space travel early in the day. "You can't achieve greatness if you're unwilling to accept risk."

----------

I've been enjoying Scott Parazynski's blog for awhile. You might too.

140conf coming to Hutchinson Kansas

Hutchinson, where I live, will host the 140conf on November 1. This is a conference that explores how real-time media, like Facebook and Twitter, have changed our world.

The 140 Character Conference is a really big deal, and this is the first one that will be held in a smaller town. Hutchinson is in the company of London, Paris, San Francisco and New York.

I applied to speak, and received word a couple of days ago that my topic was selected to be part of the schedule. My topic is, "Twitter is Today's Civic Club." I haven't actually written that speech yet, but I will in the next few weeks. I've read various things over the years that have led me to this conclusion. Now, I just need to retrace and make notes, which shouldn't be that difficult.

If you're anywhere near Hutchinson, do make an effort to attend. You can get a discount off the ticket price by going to http://140.vg/smalltown140disc. If you're a student, you can attend for free.

It should be a fascinating experience. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm always saying I want new thought coming into my world and here it is. Delivered on a silver platter. If I'd suggested it would come to my little town the same it came to Tel Aviv and Los Angeles would you have believed me? Would I have believed me? Nonetheless, here it is!

Productive Weekend

It has been a very productive weekend for me. I haven't seen anyone other than Greg all weekend. I gave up my usual Saturday routine, as well as attending some special events happening in town, to stay home and work on things. I have a freelance writing job that just came to me out of the blue, and I wanted to get it mostly wrapped up this weekend.

I worked around the house all day Saturday, going out that evening to meet Greg for dinner. I had wanted to go to the chili festival, the Prairie Book Festival and the KEC barbecue, but knew attending any one of those would mean I would stay and visit with people when I should be working, so I just didn't let myself go. Today I've done much the same thing - worked on projects all day, trying to get things done.

I feel so isolated sometimes. I go to work and come home and work on various freelance jobs - either doing them or looking for them. But, I don't know what else to do. I need the extra money from all those jobs to pay off medical bills, and if I slack off looking for them, or doing them, my income suffers down the road. So, for the immediate future this is my life. Some days my brain is exhausted, and my body feels worn out, but I have to keep doing it regardless. And, I remind myself, that I'm very fortunate I'm able to do it and that I have skills I can market.

Although I'm really, really sad about it, I've decided I just can't have a big Christmas, with all my decorations, this year. It takes a lot of time to do the decorating, and that's time I could be generating more income. So, I just can't do it. That will be two years without my big tree, which I love so very much. But, I have to focus on making extra money instead. It will be a real loss for me, but there are far bigger problems in the world.

I wish I could have everything, but there is a limit to how many things I can do in a day. I know it probably seems insane to people, but I love having my house decorated in every corner for Christmas. It makes me very, very happy to have everything so pretty and sparkly. But, it's just not meant to be this year. Thankfully, this year it's a choice I'm making and not one being thrust upon me.

I wish I had a different answer, but I need the money, and to make the money I have to have the time, and to have the time I have to give up other things I would spend the time on. One thing we can't ever get more of is time. I'm always mindful of spending my time wisely, and I hate to be spending it on thinking about making extra money. But, I just have to right now. I have no uncles left, so I'm certain I don't have any rich ones that are going to gift me with a small fortune!

I feel so out of touch with people. When I do allow myself time to be with friends it's so restorative, but it has to happen pretty easily or it just can't happen. I'll happily give up sleep, and make time to be with people, but I don't have the extra time to try and arrange lunches and gatherings like I have for the longest time. So, unless someone is seeking being with me, it just doesn't happen. I'm so thankful that Trish and Greg both suggest getting together regularly.

I miss people I used to see often for lunch, but since they make no effort to connect with me it's safe to assume that loss is one-sided. I suppose that's useful information to have, but it's not pleasant nonetheless. But, it just is what it is.

Ultimately, while I might want to spend a lot of quality time with friends, and have my extravagant Christmas decorations, and more time to write on my novel, journal, and paint for fun - it doesn't really matter. We all have to do what we have to do. And what I have to do is make extra money. So, there you go. I'm so weary of thinking about this all the time, and not having the time/energy to bring new things into my world, but it's what I have to do right now. So, I can be sad about that, or be thankful I'm making progress. I'm going with the latter.

Maybe tomorrow will bring a big job that solves some of these issues. Regardless, I'm going on my 19th hour of working on projects and I'm falling asleep in my chair so it's time to get some rest. In just five hours it will be time to be getting ready for work. I'm blessed to have a job I really like. Very fortunate.

Garden Ornament

The other day I was in a garden and spotted this. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm pretty certain it didn't start life as a garden ornament. I love creative thinking!

Happy to inform you...

This is how you want any letter from any medical entity to start: "We are happy to inform you..."

The letter that my mammogram was fine arrived yesterday. I was impressed that someone had put some thought into how they phrased it so that three words in you knew the news was good. Very nice.

Labyrinth

I walked a labyrinth today. There's something so incredibly peaceful about that process. It's methodical and meditative. It's a time for clearing of the mind.

It's rather ironic that many of us clear our homes, but not our minds.

This is a small labyrinth, and one of the most beautifully landscaped I've ever seen. It's tucked into a little garden. Everything is very compact, but it's good.

It made me think about having a labyrinth in my own backyard. But, considering I can't even keep my lawn mowed well, I don't think I need to be thinking about things like labyrinths.

As much as I love nature, at some point I'm just going to have to accept that nature doesn't like me. Nature wants to bite me. So, all summer long I must protect myself from it instead of being out enjoying it. With fall's arrival I can once again venture outdoors.

Quote of the Day

Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.
-Schopenhauer

State Fair Has Come and Gone

The Kansas State Fair has come and gone for another year. I took this photo one night in the food court. Doesn't that just say "State Fair?"

I had such an incredible time at two different shows this year. Greg, Mia, Jan and I went to see Terry Fator. I've wanted to see him since he won America's Got Talent. He was amazing.

Greg took these photos of him.



Greg had gotten front row seats and it was unbelieveable.



I was so entralled I kept forgetting to take photos.



Although I did manage to get photos of a couple of his usual bits, including the Sonny and Cher and Michael Jackson ones.





He did a couple of songs on his own and joked that people were often surprised that he could sing.



That was Monday. The very next night Sharon, Greg, Mia and I went to see the Oak Ridge Boys, who were also wonderful.


For the last few months, since seeing Frank Warren of PostSecret, my standard comment whenever anyone has been to any entertainment event has been, "That's nice... I'm sorry it's not as cool as Frank Warren handing you a book." These were that cool, even though no one gave me a book.